BATHURST hotelier and cafe owner Ash Lyons is expanding his business empire, taking over the lease at the former Elie’s Café site on William Street.
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Mr Lyons plans to rebadge the café and open as the Royal Society Café.
The café shut its doors for the last time on July 17 just hours after news broke that owner Elie Issa had been found dead alongside his former partner Nadia Cameron at Mr Issa’s Kelso home in what police believe was a murder suicide.
Mr Issa’s other business, The Kings Terrace – immediately above the café – remains untenanted with “for lease” signs still displayed on the veranda yesterday.
Mr Lyons, who was yesterday unavailable for comment, boasts business interests including the Edinboro Castle and Oxford hotels, Cobb and Co Cellars, Piper Catering YoYoBa in Orange and the Venue cafes in both Orange and Bathurst.
In September this year, Mr Lyons announced his decision to sell both The Oxford and its adjoining bottle shop, Cobb and Co Cellars.
He said the time had come to sell the hotel so he could spend more time with his children.
Mr Lyons purchased the hotel 12 years ago and went on to expand it to include the only night club in the region, Club Medusa.
While the hotel remains on the market this week, the awnings and signage which once adorned Elie’s Cafe were removed, with smaller signs posted that the Royal Society Cafe – part of Mr Lyon’s Lion Majestic Hospitality Group – would be ‘opening soon’.
A Facebook post on the Lion Majestic group of companies’ website, which was posted earlier in the month, also advised the company was in the process of hiring staff for the new cafe, including chefs, kitchen hands, baristas and management.
While no opening date has been specified, the post also states the cafe is now taking Christmas party bookings.
